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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- zoodermoue@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: jimmylunard1@freenet.de
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:16:38 +0100
Subject: THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST HELP TO ME
Hello my good friend,
How are you today?
Hope all is well
with you and your family?
I am using this opportunity to inform you that
this mlti-million-dollar business has been concluded with the assistance
of another partner from India who financed the transaction to a logical
conclusion.
Due to your past efforts,sincerity,courage and
trustworthiness you showed during the course of the transaction, I
have left a certified international bank cheque for you with my
secretary worth of $800,000.00 cashable anywhere in the world.
HIS
NAME: Mr ZOODER MOUR
ADDRESS: Cotonou, Benin Republic.
His email
address:
zoodermoue@hotmail.fr
Therefore, you should send to
him:
(1) Your full Name and telephone number.
(2) Your full/correct
mailing address where you want him to send the
cheque to you.
Thanks
and remain blessed.
MR.Jimmy Lunard
.
Anti-fraud resources:
